The Institute for the Study of War wrote on its X account: “It seems that Iran is targeting commercial ships carrying out oil transfer operations from ship to ship in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas in order to disrupt these ships’ ability to transport energy through the strait.”

The institute said that Tehran “has increased its threats against ships in the Strait of Hormuz” and added that this move is “probably intended to strengthen Iran’s threats to shipping and to reassert control over this waterway by preventing ships from using routes approved by Iran.”

The Institute for the Study of War also wrote: “Iran may be developing its anti-ship missile capabilities to increase the ability to target ships.”